Airbus Beats Boeing At Paris Airshow in Winning $11.5bn Easyjet Order

An aerial view of the 50th Paris Air Show, at the Le Bourget airport near Paris

British budget carrier easyJet said it has agreed to buy 135 planes from European aircraft maker Airbus.

EasyJet will buy 35 current-generation A320 aircraft and 100 new-generation A320neo jets from Airbus in a deal valued at about $11.5bn (£7.3bn/€8.6bn) in list prices. The airline also secured options to buy a further 100 new-generation A320neo jets in future.

Airbus's January 2013 list price for the current-generation A320s is $91.5m and $100.2m for the A320neo. The current generation aircraft are set for delivery between 2015 and 2017, while the new-generation jets will be delivered between 2017 and 2022.

Easyjet noted that it secured the deal "at highly attractive prices and at a greater percentage discount to list price" than its existing Airbus contract.

"All manufacturers competed hard for the easyJet business. Both Airbus and Boeing offered us new generation aircraft that met our requirements and offered greatly improved fuel efficiency," easyJet CEO Carolyn McCall said in a statement.

"Ultimately, Airbus offered us the best deal, and at a price with a greater discount to the list price than their landmark fleet purchase with easyJet in 2002."

EasyJet, Europe's second-largest budget carrier, started commercial service in 1995 with Boeing aircraft but it shifted to Airbus in 2002 with a deal for 120 A319s, with options for a further 120 planes.

It will use 85 of 135 ordered aircraft to replace ageing aircraft and the remaining aircraft will be used to increase the airline's capacity between 3% and 5% per year. EasyJet added that the new aircraft are more fuel efficient.

"This is a great outcome for easyJet, our shareholders and our passengers, and will ensure that easyJet is able to continue its successful strategy of delivering profitable growth and returns to shareholders," McCall added.